Would you like to lower your heating and cooling bills? Or perhaps you’re looking to decrease your environmental footprint a bit? Have you thought about implementing a combined heat pump and furnace heating system (aka a hybrid or dual-fuel system) in your central Wisconsin home? If not, it may be time to start contemplating making the switch.

Why? Read on to learn all about the benefits of combined heat pump and furnace heating systems. 

Hybrid Heating Is Ultra Efficient

Although heat pumps are widely considered the most energy efficient of all heating options, they’re only super efficient up to a point. When outdoor temperatures drop below the 40-degree mark, air-source heat pumps experience a considerable drop in efficiency simply because ambient outdoor temperatures don’t allow for considerable heat extraction.

Hybrid heating systems, on the other hand — systems that feature both a furnace and a heat pump — are considerably more energy efficient than their furnace-only or heat-pump-only counterparts. That’s because, when outdoor temperatures drop to a point where the heat pump is no longer efficient, the furnace promptly picks up the slack.

From an efficiency standpoint, when it makes sense for the heating system to extract heat from the air outdoors, that’s what the system will do. And when it makes more sense to burn fuel to create heat, the system will naturally make the switch. With both a furnace and a heat pump, your home will remain at a comfortable temperature even in sub-freezing weather, and your wallet will ultimately reap the benefits.  

Have your prepared your furnace for freezing weather yet? If not, check our winter furnace maintenance blog for tips you need to know.

Seasonal Versatility

Your furnace is only capable of doing one thing: producing heat. A heat pump, on the other hand, is capable of both heating and cooling your home. That’s because heat pumps don’t actually generate any hot or cold air; instead, they simply extract heat energy from one place, concentrate it, and deposit that heat elsewhere.

When it’s cool outdoors (in the 40°-60° F range) an air-source heat pump will extract heat from the air outside, concentrate that heat, and transfer it into your home. When it’s warm outdoors, the heat pump will do the opposite: extract heat from inside your home and transfer it into the outdoor air. With a hybrid heating system, you can use the heat pump during any season to help keep your house at a comfortable temperature while maximizing heating and cooling efficiency.

Hybrid Heating Is Environmentally Friendly

Given the way a hybrid heating system operates, it’s naturally far more eco-friendly than other household heating options, including gas-powered furnaces. And even if you’re not super concerned about being more “green,” your wallet might appreciate the extra green you can save on your taxes when you install a heat pump.

Since heat pumps are considered an energy-efficient home upgrade, you can qualify for a federal tax credit when you install an Energy Star-certified unit in your primary residence. That credit will help reduce your overall installation costs, and once installed, a heat pump can help reduce your annual energy expenditure by several hundred dollars per year. 

Curious how exactly a heat pump saves you money? Check out our breakdown on how heat pumps work to get a better idea of what this type of heating system is capable of.

Contact Steve’s Plumbing & Heating for All Your Heating and Cooling Needs

If you’re considering installing a heat pump in your Central Wisconsin home, let our team at Steve’s Plumbing & Heating help you out! For more than 25 years, we’ve specialized in comprehensive furnace and heat pump installation and we’re more than happy to help you determine whether a hybrid heating system is the right choice for your needs. To get started or learn more, feel free to call our Wisconsin Rapids office today at 715-421-1800 or request an estimate, and we’ll get in touch!